Pre-screening and preventive quarantine likely explains the low SARS-CoV-2 prevalence among Norwegian conscripts.
Scand J Prim Health Care
; 39(1): 31-34, 2021 Mar.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1066083
ABSTRACT
Objective:
We aim to discuss whether preventive quarantine can mitigate the spread of Covid-19 during the pandemic.Design:
We did a cross-sectional, observational study design in a mass-screening program in the enrolment to the Norwegian military during April 19-28th 2020 (COVID-NOR-MIL).Subjects:
1170 presumptively healthy young Norwegian conscripts.Setting:
A structured interview encouraged the coming conscripts to a self-imposed preventive quarantine the last two weeks before enrolment. Main outcomemeasures:
All conscripts underwent a PCR-based test with nasopharyngeal swabs at the day of enrolment.Results:
Only two tested positive. The study discusses the predictive value of the RT-PCR test and the risk of false positive and false negative results, particularly when using the test in a low-prevalent cohort, even if the test properties of sensitivity and specificity is almost 100%. Further, the study discusses the challenge of whether a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR-test represent viable and contagious virus or only viral remnants.Conclusion:
The adherence to self-imposed preventive quarantine is a challenge and is a subject to further research. Implications We want to draw the attention to the potential value of a thorough pre-screening processes and self-imposed preventive quarantine to minimize the potential spread of SARS-Cov-2.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Quarantine
/
Mass Screening
/
Pandemics
/
COVID-19
/
Military Personnel
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Diagnostic study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Qualitative research
/
Randomized controlled trials
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
English
Journal:
Scand J Prim Health Care
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
02813432.2021.1880101
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